Page 24

CHAPTER 24

C as nuzzled his face against Graal’s hairy chest, inhaling his musky scent. Graal’s arm rested on Cas’s lower back, just below his wings. Within the embrace of Graal’s arms, Cas felt so small and protected.

In these early hours of the morning, when they were naked and wrapped up in each other, it felt like only the two of them existed. Outside, the snow continued to fall and rustle against the windowpane. So far it had been falling for two days without much pause.

The first day, Graal had opened the door and stared out into the whiteness beyond.

“Surely they won’t make you work in this weather. It’s worse than yesterday,” Cas had said.

After some thought, Graal had agreed. And they’d gone back to bed.

Graal and Cas had fucked more times than Cas could count. Graal seemed to relish pulling as many orgasms from Cas as he could. Cas’s body and limbs ached. He felt wrung out with use, but he also felt deeply sated.

He hoped the snowstorm would last at least a few more days. Snow piled on the windowsills, in front of the apartment door, and on the stairs. They could still get down to the bakery. Which was useful, since they only had the fireplace upstairs and they used the bakery to actually cook.

And with all of them snowed in together, they definitely went through a lot of food. Uzoth had gone to check on Jack, Lacy, Trent, Ordelia, and her family. Which meant everyone could relax knowing they were all safe.

Something was going on between Grady and the gargoyle. Cas had realised with shock that he had never seen Grady with a partner or lover before. Considering Grady was the oldest and thirty years old, that seemed a little odd. But Grady had always been so responsible. Cas was glad to see him with someone for once.

Voices and movement stirred in the main room as people rose for the day. Still, Graal and Cas stayed tucked away, cosied up together.

“You awake?” Graal asked.

“Yeah.”

Graal pressed a kiss to Cas’s forehead. Cas smiled. Neither spoke for several minutes. Graal stroked Cas’s lower back before running his fingers along the edge of Cas’s wings.

“Your wings are surprisingly strong,” Graal said, voice low and deep, sending shivers down Cas’s spine. “I thought they’d be really delicate.” He caressed the fine membrane of Cas’s wing, then splayed his hand against it.

“You’re only realising that now?” Cas lifted his head so he could look up into Graal’s face. “We’ve been fucking for almost two weeks.”

“I’ve noticed the last couple of days. Before that, I was worried I’d accidentally break them or hurt you.” Graal gave a rueful smile.

Cas pressed his face against Graal’s sternum, smiling. “ No. Pixies may look small and delicate, but we’re tough and fierce.”

“I’ve come to realise that.” Graal’s hand wrapped around the bottom of a wing. He gave a little tug. “Actually, these seem strong enough for me to be able to hold onto when I fuck you.” He tugged again.

The movement jolted Cas, and he whimpered. His cock plumped against Graal’s thigh.

Graal chuckled, low and mischievous. Then, with a quick movement, he rolled Cas onto his back.

Graal knelt above him, gazing down at him with glinting yellow eyes that promised all manner of pleasure. His half-hard dick hung heavy. Already Cas could smell the arousal wafting off him.

Breath hitching, Cas spread his legs like the wanton slut he was for Graal. Graal was like some sort of sex god, and Cas wanted to worship on his knees before him.

Graal’s eyebrow rose. “I’ll take that as an invitation.”

Graal managed to wring two orgasms from Cas before letting Cas suck him to completion. Cas still couldn’t get most of Graal’s cock into his mouth. But one had to have goals to aspire to.

It was probably closer to noon when Graal and Cas stumbled from his room. Although, one couldn’t tell the time of day from looking out the window.

“I’m hungry,” Cas announced as he strolled into the main room.

“I wonder why?” Jasper said.

Leo, a mirror image of his twin, snorted. “You’ve been holed up in your room, fucking for two days straight. I’m surprised you can stand.”

Cas smirked. He didn’t point out that with each step he took, he could a feel twinge inside his body where Graal had stretched him and fucked him deep .

“There is stew. We also have some dried berry and cinnamon rolls here.” Briar gestured to the plate of rolls.

Wulfric sat beside him. He reached forward and took a roll.

“Lachlan baked them, and they should be eaten today before they get stale,” Briar said.

Kit, who’d turned out to be a cat shifter, perked up at the sound of Lachlan’s name. It had come as quite a surprise to realise the cat Lachlan had taken in as his familiar was in fact a cat shifter . He’d shifted the first night during the snowstorm into his human form. No one had been more surprised than Lachlan.

Now Lachlan didn’t seem to know what to do with Kit. Although, Cas could have sworn he’d heard moans coming from their room last night.

“How are you doing this morning, Kit?” Cas asked as he grabbed a couple of rolls and handed one to Graal.

“How long do you think Lachlan will be in the bakery? Should I go down and help?” Kit leaned forward as if ready to run out of the room after Lachlan. Even in his human form, Kit wanted to follow Lachlan around. Unfortunately, Lachlan seemed to be avoiding Kit.

“I think he is fine on his own.” Briar scratched Archimedes’s head. “He’s with Grady. So he probably doesn’t need help.”

Kit’s whole body slumped, his gaze dropping.

“You should eat, Kit.” Briar lifted the plate and held it out to him. “You haven’t eaten much the last couple of days.”

“I’m not hungry.” Kit’s voice was barely over a whisper.

Briar frowned and looked at Cas.

Hopefully, whatever was going on between Lachlan and Kit would resolve soon. Cas ate his roll and grabbed another. Beside him, Graal devoured several .

“What should we do today?” Briar gazed out the window, watching the snow.

“We should make Christmas decorations!” Cas declared. The room held a Christmas tree and quite a few decorations already. But more was always better.

“Oh!” Briar perked up. “I collected pine cones in the forest a little while ago. I thought you might want to use them for your decorations.”

Cas’s wings fluttered. “And we have dried oranges and lemons downstairs. And I always have a huge supply of ribbons. And we can make paper stars too. I bought a stack of paper just for this purpose.”

Cas paused. “Well, not this exact purpose. I didn’t know we’d be snowed in together.” He laughed. “But it will be fun.” Cas turned to Graal.

Cas froze. Graal watched him with a strange expression. Had Cas said something wrong?

“But only if everyone wants to do that?” Cas’s gaze lingered on Graal before glancing around the room.

“I want to.” Briar glanced at Wulfric.

“I would like to learn how to make Christmas decorations.” Wulfric smiled.

“I’m in too,” Leo said.

Kit didn’t say anything. But he didn’t protest. And Cas thought Kit might benefit from some sort of activity that distracted him from pining after Lachlan.

“Great!” Cas looked to Graal. “What do you think?”

Graal nodded. “Sounds fun.”

Cas frowned at him. Something was wrong.

Jasper rose. “I’m going to have a nap. All the lovers are out of bed. So hopefully I can get a few hours of peaceful sleep without being awoken by groans and creaking beds.” He looked straight at Cas .

Cas laughed. “Sorry.” But he couldn’t even pretend to look guilty. Cas regretted nothing.

Jasper shook his head but smiled and went to his and Leo’s room.

“I’ll go gather the stuff from my room.” Cas moved towards his bedroom.

“And we’ll get the pine cones and stuff from the bakery.” Briar rose. Wulfric followed.

“We should have hot chocolate and cookies,” Cas said. “Leo, that’s your job!”

They spent the next little while making Christmas decorations. Cas made garlands by threading dried lemon and oranges onto a string. Cas showed Graal how to do the same. Still, Graal stayed quiet as he followed Cas’s instructions.

Usually, Graal remained pretty low key around Cas’s family. Which Cas understood. There were lots of them, and together they could be pretty loud. But today, Graal seemed even more introspective than usual. He would pause often and look around, gazing at the decorations they made, and then stare at the Christmas tree.

Cas touched Graal throughout, rubbing his thigh, placing his hand on his shoulder, or squeezing his hand. Each time, Graal would give him a quick smile. But still, something felt off. And Cas couldn’t work out what.

“Now let’s hang them up!” Cas stood and tugged Graal to his feet. They went to a window and hung the garlands of orange and yellow in front of it. Cas smiled and glanced at Graal.

“It’s really pretty.” Graal reached out as if to touch one of the lemons and then paused. After a few seconds, he rubbed his finger against it. His Adam’s apple bobbed.

Cas stared at Graal. “Are you all right, Graal?”

Graal nodded but didn’t say anything else .

“Hey, Christmas pixie! What did you say about paper stars?” Leo asked, pulling Cas’s attention. He held up several ornaments he’d made. “I’m done making decorations from pine cones and ribbons. I want to make something else!”